Improvement in fruit-boxes



c. w. WEST UN.

Fruit-Boxes.

141,842. PatentedAugusH2,1873.

rrnn STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES W. WESTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,842, dated August 12, 1873 application filed 1 April 21, 1873.

art or science to which it most nearly appertains tomake and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to that class of wooden fruit-boxes which is made of a single wide veneer, cut at its four quarters and folded into a tapering box by doubling two of the sides upon each other.

My invention consists in an improved arrangement for securing the upturned middle flap of the sides to the overlapping corner flaps after the box is formed, and lastly, in a novel stiffening-plate for the corners of the box.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents the box as folded. Fig. 2 shows the stamped blank before folding. .Fig. 3 shows the metal bindin g-plate for the corners.

A represents a single wide veneer, which is slitted at a a, and scored, so as to fold up into a box by turning the two opposite sides upward and overlapping their end flaps f, and then, by turning up the middle flaps 1) against the outside of the overlapping flaps. At the termination of each slit a a I make a triangular or oval hole, 0, of sufficient size to permit the sides of the vcneer'to turn up with a rounding edge, as shown at c, and leave a hole uncovered through which air can pass to the interior of the box when it is filled with fruit.

I am aware that a small round hole has been previously made at the ends of the slit in this class of boxes; but its sole object was to prevent the veneer from splitting when the sides were turned up, and when the box was formed, these holes were entirely closed by the drawing together of the edges when the sides were folded.

At the upper edge of the corner flaps f I make a slot, g, horizontally along near the upper edge of the box, so that when the two flaps are overlapped the slots in them will come together. The middle or upturned outside flap b I cut longer than the overlapping flaps f, so as to provide a tongue, h, which can be passed through the slots and pressed down against the inside of the box, where it can be secured by tacks, glue, or by other convenient means. Generally, no fastening whatever will be used for this tongue, as the nesting of the boxes together when they are damp will'cause the tongues to keep their places until the wood dries, when they will be permanently set to place. To secure and stiffen the corners of the box, I employ a short piece of sheet metabj- In each end of this plate I stamp out a semicircular portion, as shown, but leave a V-shaped point, 0, inside of the semicircular cut. This point I turn outward at right angles to the plate. The plate is then bent so as to fit the outside corners of the box, and the point 0 is forced through the binding strips A tack is then driven through the sides of the box, so as to pass through the semicircular hole in the plate, and also through the binding-strip, thus providing a stiff corner, and strengthening the entire box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1sv 1. The corner flapsf, provided with slots g, in combination with the outside middle flap I) withits tongue h, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

2. The corner metal strip j having the point 0, in combination with the wooden bindingstrips 19, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

CHARLES W. WESTON. L. s.]

Witnesses: JOHN L. 'BOONE O. M. RICHARDSON. 

